In our house, diet and nutrition are extremely important. Ever since I was young I have been drawn to natural healing and health, diet being the first step to prosperous health. My husband and I are vegetarians (he eats fish in addition, once a week). I do eat dairy, but mostly the cultured or fermented forms (raw cheese and yogurt).

For milk, I love either fresh hemp milk or almond milk. In the summer, we will probably use some raw goats’ milk from a local lady. You can buy hemp and almond milk in aseptic containers on the shelf (not easily recyclable and not biodegradable), but they pale in comparison to fresh nut milk.

For some fertility issues, staying away from milk (due to its congesting nature) may be helpful. You can get your calcium from dark greens, nuts, seeds, and fresh nut milks.

Almond is my current favorite. I buy raw almonds locally at the farmers market (I am aware that I am very fortunate). We live in a Mediterranean climate and have an abundance of nuts (almonds and walnuts) that grow within 50 miles.

You can find almonds at any health food store in the bulk section (bring your own bag). Ideally raw and organic are your first choice (avoid the roasted/salted ones as they will have a ton of salt on them). Most almonds sold as raw in the US are actually pasteurized. You can order truly raw almonds online at Raw Food World.

Almond milk is very easy to make. Here is my recipe:

Almond Milk
1C. Almonds (soaked)
2T Honey, Agave, Maple Syrup or 3-4 dates (you choose)
4C water
1t vanilla extract
1 nut milk bag or hemp sprout bag or mesh strainer

1. Soak almonds for 4-8 hours in water. Strain and rinse almonds.

2. Put almonds, sweetener, 4C water and 1t vanilla in a blender. Blend for 2-3 minutes or until all almonds are pulverized.

3. Place the nut bag into a large jar or bowl. If you are using a strainer you will need a spoon to move the pulp around so it continues to strain.

My favorite is the hemp sprout bag as I can twist it and the milk comes out very easily.

4. Twist, squeeze and milk the milk out of the bag. You will know you are done once all that is left is dry almond meal (you can use this for face scrub or in muffin recipes).

5. Refrigerate in a glass jar or container for up to 4-5 days. Shake before each use.

I use this almond milk in my homemade granola, cafix drinks, and smoothies, and drink it as a wonderful milk as well.

Hethir Rodriguez - Certified Herbalist, Nutritionist, Birth Doula

Hethir Rodriguez is the Founder and President of Natural Fertility Info.com. She has been a Certified Herbalist for over 19 years, holds a Bachelors degree (BS) in Nutrition Sciences and is a Certified Birth Doula and Massage Therapist specializing in fertility massage. Since founding Natural Fertility Info.com in 2007, Hethir’s research, articles, and guides have been read by over 40,000,000 people, currently averaging at over 1,000,000+ readers per month.  Hethir has dedicated her life to helping provide a source for high quality, research based information and support for those on their journey to becoming parents.

Dr. Christine Traxler M.D., OB/GYN

Dr. Traxler is a University-trained obstetrician/gynecologist, working with patients in Minnesota for over 20 years. She is a professional medical writer; having authored multiple books on pregnancy and childbirth; textbooks and coursework for medical students and other healthcare providers; and has written over 1000 articles on medical, health, and wellness topics.  Dr. Traxler attended the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences and University of Minnesota Medical School,  earning a degree in biochemistry with summa cum laude honors in 1981,  and receiving her Medical Doctorate degree (MD) in 1986.